£700,000 cash boost for urban wildlife oasis

14/09/2009 14:06:50 Radipole Lake to get facelift
September 2009. In the next ten years the RSPB will spend £700,000 in revitalising its popular reserve at Radipole Lake in Weymouth, the largest investment in the site since the RSPB first leased the land in the 1970s.

The charity, which recently renewed its 35-year lease of the reserve from Weymouth and Portland Borough Council, has received generous funding from Natural England to begin work on the new Weymouth Wetlands Project.

March harriers, bitterns otters, bats and butterflies
The money will be spent on improving the town's wetlands for the benefit of a wide range of wildlife including nationally rare marsh harriers and bitterns as well as for a wide range of other birds, otters, bats, butterflies and wetland plants. Money will also be spent on improving access to the site and creating new wildlife spectacles and helping people make the most of their visits.

Nick Tomlinson, RSPB site manager said: "We are really excited. Radipole Lake is already an amazing place, not only for its huge range of wildlife but because it is in the middle of town, and within easy reach of busses trains and car parks, it is a great place for people as well. You can get closer to wildlife than almost anywhere else, or simply enjoy a quiet walk in the countryside. It is a real oasis in the middle of town and these improvements will make it even better!"

Work started on 15 September when diggers moved in to start restoring old ditches in the first phase of the project that will see £170,000 spent over the next two years.

Radipole Lakes will be more suitable for bitterns. Photo credit Andy Hay/RSPBimages.com

Silted up
Nick Tomlinson: "Nature reserves need constant care. Many of the old ditches on site have become silted up, and as the `arteries' of our reedbeds they need a good clear out. This will not only bring back water birds, but we hope a fresh flush of other wildlife to areas that have become a little tired. After that, we'll be creating more open areas of water around the reedbeds"

Money will also be used to create new wildlife spectacles for visitors to enjoy. "We're planning to build a new sand martin colony, provide new pond dipping platforms and build a new duck feeding area. We'll also be installing video cameras around the site to send live footage of the wildlife back to our visitor centre.

John Stobart of Natural England said, "We are delighted to be able to support the RSPB's Weymouth Wetlands Project, which will help secure Radipole Lake as one of the country's finest urban wetlands. It is breathtaking to think that within the very heart of the town visitors can experience such exceptional wildlife as otters , water voles , bitterns and marsh harriers. The funding we've been able to provide should ensure that Weymouth's spectacular reserves continue to thrive for many years to come".